An Economy That Cannot Function Without Money Will Not Work for Anything Else
Coming to terms with the role money plays in our lives is challenging for most people. But the difficulty doesn’t end there.
We have come to value money not just as a tool, but as the benchmark by which we measure everything in life.
This leads us to a deeper truth—one that must be faced, rejected, and overcome: an economy that functions for money, with money, or through money cannot, will not, and does not work for anything else.
An economy should always serve People, Community, and the Environment. These are the only foundations that truly support a good life and foster genuine equality for all.
Most people instinctively reject the idea that any form of economy or trade could operate without money. This reaction stems not from truth, but from habit. We’ve grown so accustomed to money being present in every transaction that we take it for granted—not because it’s inherently necessary for exchange.
The reality is this: an economy designed for the people must be capable of operating without money, currency, or any medium whose value can be universally—or nationally—controlled or manipulated by external parties.
Instead, value must be determined solely by those directly involved: the buyer, the seller, and the facilitator (or a community body that sets local trade rules for the exchange of essential goods and services).
This doesn’t mean money or currency must be eliminated entirely. Rather, it means that their value must remain free from inflationary or deflationary forces.
Any variation in exchange value must reflect only the true worth of the goods, services, or contributions involved.
The Moneyless Economic System
The essential shift—both in action and mindset—is from a system where money is required in every transaction, to one where the exchange of life’s necessities does not inherently depend on money at all.
One of the fundamental truths of our world is that not all things are equal. However, the way we treat people and the planet should be equal and fair for all.
It follows, then, that money—or any form of currency used as a medium of exchange—should not be governed by a universal benchmark, especially when that benchmark can be manipulated by a powerful few to serve their own interests.
It is normal that we all contribute work to meet our needs. Therefore, the things we need should be accessible to everyone, based on the value of what they can offer through their work.
The imbalance in this equation today arises not from scarcity, but from the greed of those who control access to what others need.
This imbalance is reinforced by systems of privilege, power, and the illusion of ownership that steps beyond the requirements of genuine personal need.
Adam Tugwell 
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